Latest Videos

Keep "Gangnam Style" sacred

People, especially students, like framing and defining years by popular songs and movies that were big during that time. Facebook photo album names can attest to the repeated references to certain titles, almost like teenagers are afraid that in their senile years they will not be able to recall memories without listening to “Now That’s What I Call Music.”

Chips

I would build up what I am going to talk about, but we all know it is leading to “Gangnam Style” by Psy. This under-the-radar Korean hit proved that K-pop was about to make a big splash in the United States. It is catchy, fun and even endorsed by Ellen Degeneres. Within a few months, it became the most liked video on YouTube with over 3 million likes, and over 400 million views.

The first thing that happens to mirror popularity is that parodies are made by some honest, brilliant people. Often in the form of an “SNL” sketch, “Daily Show” segment, etc., social commentary is weaved in with some harassing of the original content. We all laugh, share it with our friends and go about our day. This is where I wish it would stop, but nowadays it never does.

At this point, failing film students, annoying high schoolers who-think-they-are-making-a-successful-sketch-comedy-show and losers with cameras exploiting their out-of-touch elders decide they should make a parody of those parodies. This might be somewhat amusing, but the joke has missed the mark mostly because it just has been overdone. You might appreciate them for trying, it might get passed around mostly to make fun of it, but now you just hope it stops. It starts to ruin the actual pieces of music, so who would want to continue making videos about them?

College admissions and other marketing companies decide this is their chance to strike. What emphasizes the lightness and hilarity of a company/organization more than referencing a phenomena that peaked several months earlier? Anything. Especially not parodying “Gangnam Style,” “Call Me Maybe” or “I’m on a Boat” because I guarantee you that your peak audience hates it at this point. This includes having Chuck Norris in TV commercials YEARS after being popular to try to entice a younger audience.

Maybe this is just because Hollywood’s affinity with creating remakes instead of new ideas is starting to trickle down into the hands of anyone with a camera, but it is not acceptable. Stop ruining creative works with your B-grade writing and ideas. Let us fight, as a nation, to keep songs like “Gangnam Style” as sacred as they were intended to be.